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Biomedical/Medical Engineering at Duke University

Durham, NC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
58 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
59
Optimistic
58
Base Case
56
Pessimistic
Earnings $69,873/yr (10% vs median)
AI Risk High (50% exposed)
Job Market Medium (19,900 openings/yr)
ROI 3.9x earnings multiple
Ranked #71 of 119 Biomedical/Medical Engineering programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Biomedical/Medical Engineering graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $1,090K $1,037K $859K
Earnings Multiple 4.1x 3.9x 3.3x
Probability of Field Employment 73% 67% 48%
DegreeOutlook Score 59 58 56

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$263,220
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$137,816
48% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,894
2.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$115,268
65% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Duke University's Biomedical/Medical Engineering graduates start at $69,873/yr — above the $63,751 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 3.9x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 21% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $13,894 in median debt clears quickly against $69,873 in annual earnings.

At #71 out of 119 programs, Duke University's financial outcomes for Biomedical/Medical Engineering trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $69,873 to $115,268 over five years (65% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Duke University

Only 7% of applicants gain admission to Duke University, reflecting elite selectivity, enrolling 6,417 students in Durham, NC. After financial aid, the average student pays $137,816 over four years — 48% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Duke University →

Top Career Paths

Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
Bioengineers and biomedical engineers $106,950/yr
Engineering teachers, postsecondary $106,120/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 119 schools offering Biomedical/Medical Engineering →

Biomedical/Medical Engineering at Other Schools

University of Pennsylvania ($93,310) Rice University ($88,307) California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($81,186) University of Southern California ($80,508) Wentworth Institute of Technology ($80,401) Case Western Reserve University ($78,815) Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($78,283) University of the Pacific ($77,099)

Other Majors at Duke University

Computer Science ($133,356) Mathematics ($121,088) Computer Engineering ($111,145) Economics ($98,649) Statistics ($97,197) Mechanical Engineering ($89,938) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($77,288) History ($60,750)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Biomedical/Medical Engineering trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Duke University's Biomedical/Medical Engineering program score?
A score of 58/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Duke University trails the majority of Biomedical/Medical Engineering programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Biomedical/Medical Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Biomedical/Medical Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 50% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →